A senior UAE official has criticised Iran after attacks were reported on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said the incidents, along with attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait early on Wednesday, showed Tehran was not moving towards de-escalation.
In a post on X, Dr Gargash said, "The Iranian attacks on Qatari and Saudi commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, along with the repeated aggression against our brothers in Bahrain and Kuwait, are a clear indication that Tehran remains unable to meet the requirements of de-escalation and turn the page on the war."
Iran’s Guards said they had struck 85 targets in Bahrain and Kuwait after US retaliatory strikes on Iran on Tuesday.
US Central Command said its renewed attacks on Iran followed Iranian strikes on three commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels were identified as the Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan and the Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity.
The incidents added fresh pressure to a fragile ceasefire agreement reached between the US and Iran last month, which had paused a conflict that began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
British maritime security agency UKMTO said an “unknown projectile” hit a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, causing a fire. Two more vessels were later struck, at least one of them by a drone.
The attacks took place close to Oman, which had proposed a temporary transit corridor near its coastline. Iran had opposed the initiative as it sought to impose fees on ships using the narrow waterway.
Qatar said Al Rekayyat was Qatari and condemned the attack on international maritime navigation as unacceptable. Doha also summoned Iran’s deputy ambassador to file a complaint.
Iran rejected Qatar’s accusations, with state news agency IRNA reporting that Tehran expressed “dismay” and described the claims as unacceptable.
Oil prices rose more than 2 per cent in early Asian trading on Wednesday, reaching their highest level in two weeks, as the attacks renewed concerns over global energy supplies and the durability of the US-Iran agreement.
Last month, Dr Gargash had called for a firm and unified Gulf response after earlier Iranian drone and missile strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain.